Most everyone who has read even a little about Voodoo has heard of the famous Erzulie Freda, the Lwa of Love and Beauty. At first glance, she may appear to be an off-putting stereotype; she’s rich, beautiful, and flirtatious. Many writers have called her capricious and demanding, alleging that it is too expensive and pointless to serve her. After all, while a high school prom queen may be able to find something to relate to in this spirit, what does the majority of humankind have in common with “the girl who has everything”?
An incalculable amount, actually.
When I initially began to serve Erzulie Freda, I began to do so under a series of misconceptions. Most of these were based on the staggering amount of disinformation available. These sources were not only via the internet, but also from “respected” publications. (Obviously, Spellmaker is a huge exception to this; Mambo Sam has done a ton to combat the fabrications about Erzulie Freda.)
My first offering to Erzulie Freda basically consisted of me timidly giving her a heap of premade pastries and drugstore trinkets before telling her what I wanted. What I “got” from that ritual was probably as unfulfilling as the offering was for her. I even thought that she didn’t like me- heck, was she only going to be satisfied with Godiva chocolates? Was the stuff that I had read about her correct- did I have to break the bank to serve her? What did she want from me?
I think of the negative “spin” about Erzulie Freda as a test. I could have, after that first offering, written her off as flighty and distant. But then there is the question: do you really want to know her or just get what you want? While she is truly happy to help those who ask, to not know the sheer beauty that is Freda would be a colossal loss for anyone. Like all offerings to the Lwa, It is not so much the price-tag that counts as it is the love, respect, and intent. As the “queen of hearts”, this is especially true with Erzulie Freda. She would, of course, love Godiva chocolates…but she lives in the realm of perfection and dreams. What is one more chocolate to her? I continued to serve her after my first attempt- some part of me could tell that she wanted me to. As time passed, the portions of food I gave her varied in size- but I found myself having a lot of fun arranging the offerings so they were pretty for her, regardless of how much I was able to spend on them. I grew more connected to her and my appreciation of this incredible entity skyrocketed.
Erzulie Freda is the living, conscious archetype of perfection. In life, the countless number of humans who have become part of Freda experienced every sort of joy and pain, the full range of emotions. She knows the celestial heights of true love but is equally acquainted with the darkest depths of the human heart. She is the culmination of the human experience; sensation, emotion, and Dreams.
It is due to this collective experience that she is, indeed, exceedingly patient and gracious. She will happily accept any offering given with a loving heart. Erzulie Freda does not “demand” utter perfection from humans- she knows better than anyone how unattainable it is on this plane of existence.
Freda is syncretized with the Virgin Mary, most often in the image of the Mater Dolorosa (“Sorrowful Mother”). The image of the Mater Dolorosa shows her surrounded by treasures, yet she clutches her chest; a long dagger is buried deep in her heart.
This is an important aspect of Erzulie Freda that often gets lost amidst the glamour. In spite of her “wealth” of painful experience, she voluntarily bears the heartache of the world. The reason she cries is not that she is shallow- she is crying for the inevitable collision of ideals and fantasy with brutal reality; for the boy who doesn’t get the girl; for the girl in a loveless marriage; for every child who grew up. Lost illusions and the sense that “something just broke and can’t be put back together the same way, no matter how much glue you use.”
She takes this on because she has been there. She wears the dagger in her heart in the hopes that we do not have to. We can call on her when we are despairing. In New Orleans Voodoo, we ask that Erzulie Freda “unsalt our tears and spill them on the ground” and “grow something beautiful where they fall.”
Erzulie Freda is in no way “flighty”- I have found her to be incredibly strong and loyal. She has always stayed with me when I needed her, taking away my pain into herself. And yet, as the Lwa of Hopes and Dreams, she helps us in another way as well. She aids us by giving us those “unattainable” goals to fight for. And she helps us to bring them out of the realm of the ethereal and into reality. Honor to Erzulie Freda!
PS: A wonderful way to become acquainted with Erzulie Freda (and treat yourself at the same time) is Erzulie Pink Bath Kit. This awesome bath kit can be used for a huge variety of purposes and is always a powerful experience. Check out the link: http://www.spellmaker.com/cleanseyou.htm
Light and LOVE,
Khouzhan Menfó
